High court rejects animal cases

The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday denied attempts to make oral arguments before the court by 15 states in lawsuits against California and Massachusetts over claims of regulating agricultural production across state lines. Without commentary, the Supreme Court denied a pair of court cases, including Missouri and 12 other states versus California. The Supreme Court also denied a similar case led by Indiana and 12 other states against Massachusetts, though the court also noted that Justice Clarence Thomas would have granted the motion for a hearing.The cases are similar, and most of the same states joined Missouri or Indiana in one or both cases. Missouri initiated a case against California's law involving cage standards for egg-laying hens for those eggs to be sold in California.Massachusetts has a similar law blocking the sale of eggs, pork and veal in the state based on confinement standards, as well, prompting Indiana to lead a lawsuit.The Humane Society of the United States on Monday praised the Supreme Court for the decision, as well as the Supreme Court rejecting another case that bans the sale of foie gras from force-fed birds.